Best of

the Twin Cities

Best Reunion

Happy Apple

Twin Cities trio Happy Apple helped bring jazz music to indie kids back in the early ’90s. Their experimental approach and comical song titles (“Hence the Turtleneck,” “The Express Lane Really Isn’t All That Fast”) removed the air of pretension that’s often associated with jazz music. Plus, they delivered live sets that blew you away no matter what type of music you loved. It was no surprise to see the members blossom with other groups — drummer Dave King with the Bad Plus, saxophonist Mike Lewis with Bon Iver and Andrew Bird, and bassist Erik Fratzke with Zebulon Pike. But their individual successes made seeing Happy Apple a rare occurrence. Thankfully, the band occasionally reunites at Icehouse in Minneapolis, and they still gel onstage. King’s slapstick comedy from behind the kit loosens up the crowd, while the crew’s exploratory tunes showcase bold innovation and deft musicality. Happy Apple’s recorded work stands as a testament to the underground jazz scene in the Twin Cities, and they still floor audiences whenever the band gets back together.